Innovation in Life Science Project (100 pts.)
“Innovation in life science will be the major driver of meeting four major societal challenges: challenges of
climate, challenges of food, challenges of energy, and challenges of health.”
Phillip A. Sharp, MIT, Co-chair, NRC Committee, A New Biology for the 21st Century
This is your chance to ask your own question about how scientists are working to meet ONE of the four
challenges, and then spend 4-7 hours finding answers to your question using credible sources and preparing a
BRIEF oral presentation for the class.
Examples of questions:
How can biomimicry help architects design buildings that use less energy?
How are stem cells being used to treat illnesses?
How are genetically-modified foods being used to help meet world food insecurity?
Learn about a NEW technique/discovery/approach/invention, etc. related to the challenge – this is the
innovation part!!! Don’t just describe a disease or a problem, but focus on what is currently being done to
address the problem/issue.
Be particular about the websites and/or magazines that you choose to learn information from – always ask
yourself: What is the motivation of the website’s creator? Are they selling something? Is it an academic
institution? Is it a government website? Don’t take anything at face value – snoop around before you settle in…
Doing a search through academic databases is a MUCH better way to find reputable sources than simply
googling!! If you cannot identify the organization or author, and have no way to verify the credibility of the
information, I suggest that you DON’T use it.
It is important that you cite each reference correctly – Do not just provide the link!
This helpful website has examples for all types of
sources. I suggest that you use the APA format.
1. Prepare 6 slide deck (Powerpoint, Google slides, Canva, Prezi, etc.) of your findings.
a. Slide #1: Title of your presentation and your name
b. Slide #2: What question did you ask, and how does this relate to one of the four challenges: health,
energy, food, or climate?
c. Slide #3: The innovation that you learned about (include at least one helpful image)
d. Slide #4: Use details to further describe HOW the innovation functions, its structure (what it is made
from, how it is produced, the cost, etc) and HOW it addresses the challenge. Provide any other important
fact we should know about the INNOVATION.
e. Slide #5: Connect the innovation that you learned about to a topic discussed in the course or one of the
core concepts of the course. WHY should we care? HOW does this relate to us?
f. Slide #6: List your four sources (you will not show or talk about this slide, so the font can be small.) For
each source, identify the author (or organization) and explain why you think the source is credible. Use
the examples for citing your sources.
2. Submit your slides to Canvas before due date
3. Present your slides on presentation day – you have only 2-3 minutes to present your slides.
Biology Innovation Project Name____________________ Topic_______________________
Area
(each worth up
to 20 points)
10 points
12 points
14 points
16 points
20 points
Points
earned
Neatness,
grammar, and
spelling
Numerous errors,
not typed,
Numerous errors Some errors Few errors No errors, neat,
and very creative!
Topic related to
one of the 4
major challenges
and related to
BIO 101
No relationship,
no innovation
Weak relationship
to either
challenges OR BIO
101,
Innovation not
relevant
Good relationship
to challenges OR
BIO 101,
Innovation
unclear
Good relationship
to both challenges
& BIO 101,
Innovation
mentioned
Very strong
relationship to
both challenges &
BIO course
material,
innovation clearly
described
Quality and
quantity of
sources/
references
Poor sources;
1 source
Poor sources; 1-2
sources,
No evidence of
credibility
Good sources;
1-2 sources.
Little evidence of
credibility
Good sources;
3 sources,
Some evidence of
credibility
Excellent sources;
4 or more
sources,
credibility
explained
Biological
content (ideas,
vocabulary)
Many biological
errors, no
connection to
class
Some biological
errors, minimal
connection to
class
Minimal bio
knowledge, some
connection to
class
Good use of
biological
knowledge, good
connection to
class
Excellent use of
biological
knowledge,
excellent
connection to
class
In-class
presentation
No slides,
No presentation
Slides poorly
done,
Reading slides
much of the time
Slides and
summary okay,
summary MUCH
too long or too
short.
Some reading of
slides
Slides well done,
good summary,
but too long or
too short,
read slides
occasionally
Slide very well
done with
appropriate
images,
excellent
summary,
presentation good
length,
No reading of
slides
Total/100
